‘Black Bag Cop’ found dead in Thai prison, suspected suicide (video)
Disgraced former Police Colonel Thitisak Uthanaphon, infamously known as “Director Joe,” or Joe Ferrari, has been found dead in his prison cell at Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok.
The 43 year old, who was serving a life sentence for the torture and killing of a drug suspect, reportedly took his own life – but suspicions linger over the circumstances of his death.
Prison officials confirmed that Thitisak was discovered at around 11pm yesterday, March 7. His wife was immediately notified, but she has since raised doubts, questioning whether her husband truly ended his own life or if there was something more sinister at play.
“We need to know the full details. Was it really suicide? Or was there foul play involved?” she reportedly said.
Police are now conducting an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Pol. Col. Sanya Ubonwiratana, superintendent of Prachachuen Police Station, stated that forensic officers, prosecutors, and a doctor from the Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine arrived at the prison at 9am today, March 8, to begin their investigation.
Thitisak, once a high-ranking officer in the Nakhon Sawan Provincial Police, was at the centre of a shocking scandal that rocked Thailand in 2021. He and six other officers were caught on video suffocating drug suspect Jirapong Thanapat with a black plastic bag during an interrogation, ultimately causing his death. The horrific footage led to national outrage, culminating in Thitisak’s dismissal, arrest, and trial.
In 2022, the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct sentenced him to death for jointly killing others by torture or cruelty. However, his sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment after his family compensated the victim’s parents.
Thitisak’s death in custody has now sparked fresh controversy. Given the high-profile nature of his case and his connections within law enforcement, many are questioning whether his reported suicide was truly voluntary or if someone had reason to silence him, reported Thairath.
Thai police insist that a full and transparent investigation will be carried out. Meanwhile, as speculation grows, the nation is once again gripped by the chilling legacy of the “Black Bag Cop.”
If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai), or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress, or depression. Seek help.
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